From Friday, Oct. 6, to Saturday, Oct. 14, Philadelphians can head to Germantown Avenue for the spectacle that is the Night of Lights streetscape exhibition.
The annual event from Chestnut Hill Conservancy lets visitors learn about architecture, archives, and local history along Germantown Avenue between Willow Grove Avenue and Bethlehem Pike. The official kick-off will include a Flip the Switch ceremony starting at 6:45 p.m. on the 6th held in the outdoor open space on East Hartwell next to the Foliage Plant Boutique.
Following that, Philadelphians can stick around for storytellers at each themed projection window, music from various local acts like from MilkBoy co-founder Tommy Joyner’s Pep Rally, plus entertainment from Maplewood Music Studios (including performances by Maplewood Music Studios teachers Rich Rudin, Larry Cohen, John “Jocko” MacNelly, and Ralph Salerno), a release states.
Additionally, there will also be an “Ask the Archivists” table, and more family-friendly interactive activities, with the night concluding at 9 p.m. After opening night, the exhibition continues nightly from 7 to 9 p.m. until its final night.
“The Chestnut Hill Conservancy is delighted to bring back our beloved Germantown Avenue streetscape exhibition,” said Conservancy Executive Director Lori Salganicoff in a statement.
Salganicoff continues: “This sixth year of the Night of Lights exhibition will shed light on otherwise hidden layers of history, Wissahickon Park, improving energy efficiency in older buildings, and much more. We are excited to transform Chestnut Hill’s vibrant commercial corridor again with archival and modern images, colored lights, and a diversity of fascinating stories.”
Night of Lights will ultimately transform Chestnut Hill’s main street into a vibrant nightly streetscape exhibition of local histories and illuminated architecture, projecting archival images from the Conservancy’s and other archives through eight storefront windows a release states. Also, colorful lights will highlight often overlooked architectural features of neighboring historic buildings. During the event, each of the eight illuminated windows will present themed slideshows comprising historical images and educational content, which will be projected through storefront windows.
Themes for 2023 span ‘Antique Postcards from the Wissahickon’ from the collections of David Bower and Friends of the Wissahickon, ‘Inspiration by Design’ from the architects who created Chestnut Hill, ‘Lots to Offer’ covering the origins of the Business District parking lots, ‘The Olmsted Legacy in Chestnut Hill’ covering what’s been lost, what survives, plus what might have been, and much more.
Participating businesses and restaurants such as Chestnut Grill, Cider Belly, Foliage Plant Boutique, Garden State Tile, Matine’s Café, and Moondance Farm Studios will offer extended hours during the exhibition for attendees to enjoy as well.
To learn more about Chestnut Hill’s Night of Lights, visit chconservancy.org
